RIP Theoni Vachlioti Aldredge

Have been meaning to write this since I heard the news on Friday. Theoni Vachlioti-Aldredge, born in Thessaloniki in 1932 and one of the greatest costume designers this country has ever exported, is no longer with us.

With hundreds of Broadway plays, movies and tv shows featuring her name, it would be fair to say she'll be remembered as one of last century's most important costume designers worldwide.

She's in the Theatre Hall of Fame since 1986, has received awards like TONY, BAFTA, Costume Guild Career Achievement Award, as well as an Oscar for Jack Clayton's 'The Great Gatsby' (1974). First film in her long career was Michalis Kakoyiannis' 'Stella' (1955) followed by many famous classics like 'Annie' (1982) and Ghostbusters (1984).

A true icon, may she rest in piece.
*Deni Vachlioti is Theoni Vachlioti's cousin, also a costume designer and sometimes mistakenly mentioned as her, even on imdb.

Patricia Munster's Fashion & Art - interview

Patricia Munster's relationship to both fashion and photography is special and her work reflects that, whether her subject is on the catwalk, backstage or on stage. Now she's got a blog of her own: IsFashionArt. Comes from Holland, lives in Athens and is currently one of the dearest behind-the-scenes faces in town. Meet Patricia, in her own words and shots:
"Photography is a hobby since I was a little child. During highschool I developed my own photos already. I worked at a clothing store at Saturdays and school holidays to support this hobby. At 22 I graduated from fashion management and worked in the fashion industry as merchandise manager, enjoying my hobby photography. Three years ago I decided to make my hobby, my profession".
Why do you feel that something as commercial nowadays as fashion, is art?
Art is an expression of creativity to generate aesthetic pleasure, in any kind of form. So fashion can be. But who are the real artists in the fashion world is an interesting quest.
As a fashion photographer, how did the fashion blogging boom influence your work?
There are many blogs that inspire me to take better photos. But also opportunities to expose my work world wide.
Why have you started a blog of your own?
I love to photograph and share my photos. But also to do something more than just photographing, to be able to comment. I am still in the beginning and exploring the possibilities of my blog.
Special moments captured by your lens?
I loved to photograph Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane von Furstenberg, George Michael and Beyoncé when they were in Athens. A special moment for my 'Dutch' lens was photographing Pieter van Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn, two Dutch swimmers, winning each of them a golden medal in Athens during the Olympics. But most special moments captured by my lens are with friends.
How's the fashion photography profession in Greece vs other countries you've worked in?
In every country there are opportunities and challenges. Only in Greece the price you get for publishing your photo in a magazine is very low. Not to mention assignments... I do not like the attitude of some people here that think they can get photos for free and it doesn't cost you anything! And I hate when they copy my photos without even mentioning it!
Favorite Greek designer shows?
To select my favorite Greek designer show is difficult. So many shows I have captured and each one is unique in its own way. I enjoyed photographing the fashion weeks at Zappeio in the center of Athens, it had a more sophisticated ambiance than at Ethniki Asfalistiki or at Technopolis.
But the lighting is most important for me when capturing a show so the piece of art gets written well by my camera!

Give a warm welcome and check out what Patricia has been up to lately, here:
http://isfashionart.blogspot.com/
Browse Patricia's work archives, here:
http://www.patricia-styleandimage.gr/

This shoot had to be included

Realised it quite late, nevertheless this shoot had be included in 2010's index of mine. Here's a summer memory, before this year comes to an end. Ino Mei for Epifanios S/S 10. Photos by Ilias Tsepas.

Saturday night Metalla

Elias Fragoulis and Ino Mei promised Metalla would be a night of casualties. Count me among those down. I'm still hurting from last night - not sure if it was too much dancing or too much laughing that got me in the end. Turns out their ruthless djing brought trash* music fanatics and metal headbangers closer, under a shower of carnations (!?!) as well as... the threat of an enormous sword. Had to see to believe.
*some stongly insisted it was classics.
No wait, flash killed the projection. Here:
Weapons of choice. (They do hurt if target is unprepared)
Swing Bar floor as you've never seen it before:
Had forgotten how much I like this mix of Nirvana vs Rick Astley. Kept 100% of the house happy - although I've got the feeling half was dancing to one part of the mix and the rest to the other.
Smells like never gonna give you up.

George Barnett was around

Saturday night at Plissken Festival, Athens and These New Puritans are on stage. Hold on a minute, isn't this...?
Well drummers are not famous for sitting still, but if only he could, and a ray of light please...
Oh, whatever, it's not gonna happen. Here's the best I came up with:
These New Puritans' drummer George Barnett. Drummer/ Model George Burnett. Lanvin, Dior, Prada, loads more. That one.
Above at Lanvin A/W 08 - centre, below - left, with twin brother and lead singer of the band, Jack Barnett, for Vogue Homme Japan.
For real overall visual from Plissken, check out this post by StopThatSound.
Or this one by Life in Athens.
Or this one by OrdinaryStylePulse (girl's lens was on fire, spot me among her wicked shots).